.22 LR High Velocity vs Subsonic vs Colibri: Speed and Cycling

High velocity, subsonic and Colibri .22 LR differ mainly in speed. Using Aguila's own 22 LR line as an example, high velocity runs about 1,255 feet per second, subsonic about 1,025, and Colibri only 420. High velocity is the load that reliably cycles semi-autos. Subsonic stays under the speed of sound. Colibri uses no powder at all, so it is far quieter and will not cycle a semi-automatic action.

The .22 LR velocity classes, side by side

One maker's catalog keeps the comparison fair, since the numbers come from the same company. Aguila lists these muzzle velocities:

• Hyper velocity (SuperMaximum, 30 grain): 1,700 fps
• High velocity (40 grain): 1,255 fps
• Standard velocity (40 grain): 1,130 fps
• Subsonic (40 grain): 1,025 fps
• Super Colibri (20 grain): 590 fps
• Colibri (20 grain): 420 fps

Your rifle or pistol will not match these exactly. Barrel length changes .22 velocity a lot, and handgun barrels usually run slower than rifle barrels.

Where the speed of sound falls

NASA gives the speed of sound on a standard sea-level day as about 1,100 feet per second, and notes it depends on air temperature. A bullet above that speed makes a small sonic crack all the way downrange, which is part of the noise you hear. Below it, the crack goes away.

That puts standard velocity .22 right on the line, and high velocity clearly above it. Subsonic loads are built to stay below it, which matters most with a suppressor. Warm air raises the speed of sound, so on a hot Phoenix afternoon a load that is close to the line has a little more room than it would on a cold morning.

Why Colibri will not cycle a semi-auto

Colibri has no powder. Aguila calls it a powderless round, and the NRA's Shooting Sports USA review explains that the priming compound in the rim is the only propellant. That is enough to push a 20 grain bullet out at 420 fps with 8 ft-lb of energy, but not enough to work a blowback action. In a semi-auto rifle or pistol, every shot has to be cycled by hand. Aguila says Colibri is designed for bolt-action rifles and revolvers, and those are where it works as intended.

With so little energy, a Colibri bullet can occasionally stop in a long barrel. If a shot sounds unusually weak, stop and confirm the bore is clear before you fire again.

Colibri vs Super Colibri

Both use a 20 grain bullet and no powder. Super Colibri is the stronger version. Aguila lists it at 590 fps and 16 ft-lb, against 420 fps and 8 ft-lb for Colibri, and Shooting Sports USA describes it as roughly twice the energy. It is a little louder and reaches a little farther, and it is still built for bolt guns and revolvers.

We stock only the standard Aguila Colibri 20 grain (1B220337), our most-clicked product, from a 50-round box to a 1,000-round case. We do not stock Super Colibri, or high velocity, standard velocity or subsonic .22 LR right now. Check .22 Long Rifle for what is listed today.

How to choose between them

• Semi-auto rifle or pistol, general shooting: high velocity, so the action cycles.
• Suppressed shooting where the action must cycle: subsonic, tested in your gun, since some subsonic loads run marginally in some semi-autos.
• Bolt-action or revolver, very low noise at short range: Colibri.
• New or noise-sensitive shooters: Colibri in a manual action keeps noise and recoil to a minimum.

For the quietest-load angle, see quietest .22 LR ammo. For rimfire basics and other .22 cartridges, see the .22 LR ammo guide.

Buying and pickup

You must be 21 or older to order any ammunition from us. Orders ship UPS Ground from Phoenix within 2 business days, charged by weight. A 1,000-round case of Colibri ships at 7.8 lb. See where we ship, or pick up in Phoenix Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, with ID (480-623-4515).

.22 LR velocity questions

Is standard velocity .22 LR subsonic?

Not quite. Aguila lists its standard velocity load at 1,130 fps, close to the speed of sound, which NASA puts at about 1,100 fps on a standard day. Air temperature and your barrel decide which side of the line it lands on.

Will subsonic .22 LR cycle my semi-auto?

Often, but not always. Subsonic loads have less energy than high velocity, and some semi-autos run them unreliably. Test a box in your gun before buying in bulk.

Does Colibri need a suppressor to be quiet?

No. Aguila markets Colibri as quiet enough that a suppressor is not needed, because it has no powder and runs well below the speed of sound. Hearing protection is still a good idea.

Can I shoot Colibri in a Ruger 10/22?

It will fire, but it will not cycle the action, so you cycle it by hand each shot. Watch for a bullet stuck in the bore.

More answers in our ammo FAQ.